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Ryanair considering transatlantic flights in five years | Ryanair considering transatlantic flights in five years |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Budget airline Ryanair says it hopes to offer flights between Europe to the US in four to five years. | Budget airline Ryanair says it hopes to offer flights between Europe to the US in four to five years. |
The Irish airline said its board had approved transatlantic flights as part of its plans for future growth, but warned it could take up to five years to become a reality. | The Irish airline said its board had approved transatlantic flights as part of its plans for future growth, but warned it could take up to five years to become a reality. |
"It's dependent on attaining viable long-haul aircraft and we estimate that's four to five years away," a spokesman told the BBC. | "It's dependent on attaining viable long-haul aircraft and we estimate that's four to five years away," a spokesman told the BBC. |
Ryanair first aired the plans in 2008. | Ryanair first aired the plans in 2008. |
Analysis: Richard Westcott, transport correspondent | |
Ryanair wants to fly across the Atlantic because it's a money-spinner...if you can get it right. | |
Mind you, the long list of companies that have tried and failed to make low-cost long-haul work, starting with Freddie Laker in the Seventies, shows that it's easier said than done. | |
The low-cost business model currently relies on flying very full planes relatively short distances, then turning them around as quickly as humanly possible and sending them the other way again. | |
All while offering the bare minimum on board. Long-haul is different. People have more bags in the hold for one thing, so turnaround is slower. | |
Ryanair will also need new long-distance planes. And then they'll have to muscle their way past the gang of airlines already flying this lucrative route. | |
Interestingly, Easyjet's boss Carolyn McColl recently told the BBC: "We have no intention to do long-haul because we think it's a different kind of business". She also said it was "high risk" to change their short-haul strategy. | |
Having said all of that, who would put anything past the all-conquering Ryanair? | |
The airline said it is currently talking to plane manufacturers about purchasing long-haul aircraft, but said it couldn't comment further on this. | The airline said it is currently talking to plane manufacturers about purchasing long-haul aircraft, but said it couldn't comment further on this. |
"European consumers want lower cost travel to the USA and the same for Americans coming to Europe. We see it as a logical development in the European market," the spokesman added. | "European consumers want lower cost travel to the USA and the same for Americans coming to Europe. We see it as a logical development in the European market," the spokesman added. |
It said it would like to offer low-cost flights between 12 to 14 European cities and the same number of US cities. | It said it would like to offer low-cost flights between 12 to 14 European cities and the same number of US cities. |
Currently, the transatlantic route is dominated by long-established airlines, with British Airways and American Airlines the main players. | Currently, the transatlantic route is dominated by long-established airlines, with British Airways and American Airlines the main players. |
Oslo-based low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle began a service to the US in 2013, but recently blamed the costs of its expansion, including disputes with US regulators, for its first loss in eight years. | Oslo-based low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle began a service to the US in 2013, but recently blamed the costs of its expansion, including disputes with US regulators, for its first loss in eight years. |